The Chuck ToddCast

Chuck Todd devotes much of this episode to a rich, personal reflection on the death of Senator Lindsey Graham at 71 — a figure who can only be understood if you separate the ideologues from the pure politicians, because Graham was unambiguously the latter. Graham always wanted to be in the middle of the Republican Party, treated his Senate seat as something as precious to him as a spouse, and was a genuine political creature who could nonetheless work with everyone, partnering with both Trump and Obama across his career. Chuck shares personal memories — interviewing Graham alongside John McCain, the two of them giving outsized attention to the Steele Dossier; Graham losing his parents in his 20s and raising his 13-year-old sister; even reassuring Chuck’s own wife about her worries over Trump — and argues that Graham, for all his capitulations, actually served as one of the few moderating forces on Trump. He lays out the very real political fallout: Todd Blanche's confirmation as Attorney General is now in serious jeopardy, Graham leaves a massive vacuum in the GOP conference, and his South Carolina seat could actually be competitive for Democrat Annie Andrews if the Republican primary lurches far enough to the right. From there Chuck draws a series of parallels between American and British politics — Labour returning to power on a promise of competence and stability, Nigel Farage (like Trump) trying to convert political fame into personal wealth, and the satirical candidate "Count Binface" holding up a mirror to a political culture that has become pure theater — musing, only half-jokingly, that America could use its own Count Binface. Chuck closes on a sober note about the U.S.-Israel relationship, which he believes is heading for a real retreat: he recalls how close the region came to a two-state peace two decades ago, how the collapse of that moment allowed radicalism to escalate on both sides until each could argue the other doesn't want peace, and points to Rahm Emanuel's recent speech in Israel — warning that Israel must articulate a vision for what comes after the war or risk isolating itself from younger and moderate Americans — as the sound of someone trying to save a political center that vanishes the moment people conclude moderates don't have answers.
Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to break down the messy build up and coalitions involved in the Spanish civil war, and what lessons modern America can take from it. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and make a proposal for a change to the baseball Hall of Fame.
From the opening whistle to the final kick. Bet on a match and get bonus bets for every goal scored at Fanduel.com
Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.
Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.
Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order.
Timeline:
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction
04:15 Senator Lindsey Graham dead at 71
04:45 Reactions to Graham are filtered through one’s personal politics
05:30 There are ideologues and there are politicians. Graham was the latter
06:45 Graham always wanted to be in the middle of the Republican party
09:00 Graham’s senate seat was as important to him as a spouse
11:15 Certain people are just political creatures, like Graham and Cruz
12:45 Graham was able to work with everyone on both sides of the aisle
13:30 Graham worked with both Trump and Obama
15:30 Conspiracy theories are swirling about Graham’s death
16:15 There needs to be a thorough autopsy to put conspiracies to rest
17:30 Chuck interviewed Graham & McCain, they mentioned the Steele Dossier
18:15 Graham and McCain gave the most attention to the Dossier
20:30 Graham’s parents died in his 20s, he raised his 13 year old sister
22:30 Chuck had Graham as a dark horse candidate for 2008
23:15 Graham was aware of the rumors and never addressed them directly
24:30 The real world impact on politics from Graham’s passing
25:00 Todd Blanche’s confirmation is now in serious jeopardy
25:30 Graham leaves a massive vacuum in the GOP conference
28:00 Graham kept Trump from fully going down the fascist road
29:15 Unlike Trump, Graham sees Putin as a threat & backed Ukraine
31:15 Impact on the South Carolina elections
32:00 There will be lots of Republicans looking to jump into the primary
33:15 If primary goes super right-wing, Democrat Annie Andrews has a shot
35:15 Graham reassured Chuck’s wife after expressing worries about Trump
37:45 Graham knew if he had gone hard on Trump, he’d lose his senate seat
38:45 There are parallels between U.S. and U.K politics
39:45 Labour came back into power promising competence and stability
40:45 Nigel Farage, like Trump… is trying to turn political fame into wealth
42:30 “Count Binface” has been challenging Farage as a satirical candidate
43:30 The man who made UK politics theatrical, now facing a theatrical challenge
44:00 The U.S. could really use a “Count Binface” to hold up a mirror
45:15 What if we accepted the premise of politics as entertainment?
46:00 Should we host a political reality show on an island
47:15 Governing experience has become a liability in American politics
48:00 Media rewards performance more than competency
50:15 There is going to be a retreat in the American-Israeli partnership
50:45 20 years ago we were very close to peace & two state solution
52:45 When moderation & compromise fail, radicalism takes its place
54:00 There was a serious chance for peace two decades ago
54:30 After both sides walked away, the radicalism escalated
56:15 The extremes can now argue the other side doesn’t want peace
57:00 Rahm Emmanuel travels to Israel to give speech
58:00 Rahm says Israel must provide vision for what comes after war
59:15 Rahm warns Israel risks isolating itself from younger & moderate Americans
1:00:45 Rahm sounds like someone trying to save the political center
1:02:00 Moderation disappears when it feels like moderates don’t have answers
01:12:00 ToddCast Time Machine - July 17th, 1936
01:12:30 Start of the Spanish civil war
01:13:15 Why does Spain’s civil war stand out in history?
01:14:30 The war wasn’t simply a fight between left and right
01:15:00 1930s Spain had every divide imaginable
01:16:00 Political violence became common, political center got smaller
01:16:45 The left wing coalition that won was barely united at all
01:17:45 Military units in Morocco revolted, then coup spread to Spain
01:18:30 Franco eventually united a fascist coalition with military command
01:19:15 The left’s internal divisions became one of Franco’s advantages
01:20:30 Civilians became part of the battlefield and were targeted
01:22:00 George Orwell’s writing came directly from his experiences in Spain
01:23:15 The fascist wing won the war and Franco ruled until 1975
01:24:00 Pluralism only emerged after decades of authoritarian rule
01:25:30 The transition out of authoritarianism came from exhaustion, not agreement
01:27:00 Sharing power with opponents is preferable to violence
01:28:15 Book recommendations for learning more about the Spanish civil war
01:29:15 Ask Chuck
01:29:30 How can we get back to lasting governance and progress?
01:35:00 Could Trump run as VP or speaker then ascend back to the presidency?
01:38:15 Why do prominent political interviews not have aggressive follow ups?
01:44:45 Who was the best pitcher of this generation that’s retiring?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd devotes much of this episode to a rich, personal reflection on the death of Senator Lindsey Graham at 71 — a figure who can only be understood if you separate the ideologues from the pure politicians, because Graham was unambiguously the latter. Graham always wanted to be in the middle of the Republican Party, treated his Senate seat as something as precious to him as a spouse, and was a genuine political creature who could nonetheless work with everyone, partnering with both Trump and Obama across his career. Chuck shares personal memories — interviewing Graham alongside John McCain, the two of them giving outsized attention to the Steele Dossier; Graham losing his parents in his 20s and raising his 13-year-old sister; even reassuring Chuck’s own wife about her worries over Trump — and argues that Graham, for all his capitulations, actually served as one of the few moderating forces on Trump. He lays out the very real political fallout: Todd Blanche's confirmation as Attorney General is now in serious jeopardy, Graham leaves a massive vacuum in the GOP conference, and his South Carolina seat could actually be competitive for Democrat Annie Andrews if the Republican primary lurches far enough to the right. From there Chuck draws a series of parallels between American and British politics — Labour returning to power on a promise of competence and stability, Nigel Farage (like Trump) trying to convert political fame into personal wealth, and the satirical candidate "Count Binface" holding up a mirror to a political culture that has become pure theater — musing, only half-jokingly, that America could use its own Count Binface. Chuck closes on a sober note about the U.S.-Israel relationship, which he believes is heading for a real retreat: he recalls how close the region came to a two-state peace two decades ago, how the collapse of that moment allowed radicalism to escalate on both sides until each could argue the other doesn't want peace, and points to Rahm Emanuel's recent speech in Israel — warning that Israel must articulate a vision for what comes after the war or risk isolating itself from younger and moderate Americans — as the sound of someone trying to save a political center that vanishes the moment people conclude moderates don't have answers.
Then, John Morgan — founder of Morgan & Morgan, one of the largest personal injury firms in the country — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a wide-ranging conversation about civil litigation, the failures of government regulation, and his plan to launch a third party in Florida. Morgan makes the case that civil litigation has grown precisely because government has failed to regulate — social media is a genuine threat to human wellbeing (especially for children), monopolies are squeezing consumers, and processed foods, he argues, are the new tobacco: extremely harmful and ripe for legal reckoning. He offers a candid, colorful assessment of his former firm member RFK Jr. — "smart and crazy," a man who falls down some genuine BS rabbit holes but also champions legitimate causes — and walks through the thorny reality that vaccine makers enjoy total indemnity while sovereign immunity exists in some form in all 50 states. Morgan is refreshingly honest about the ethics of his own industry, arguing that ads gloating about settlement numbers are a mistake because the real goal of a settlement is to give someone back something they lost, not to celebrate a payday.
The heart of the conversation is Morgan's plan to launch a new third party in Florida called "Common Ground," rooted in his conviction that the two-party system itself is what's fundamentally broken in America. Morgan argues that moderates should function as the tiebreakers in a polarized system — that picking up just a few seats could turn an uncommitted moderate bloc into a genuine fulcrum of power in Congress — and explains why he'd rather build something new than partner with the existing Forward Party. He handicaps Florida's political landscape with an insider's candor: Byron Donalds likely wins the governorship but it'll be close, the Charlie Crist party-switch playbook never worked, and he's genuinely unsure whether voters can find David Jolly credible after his own party change.. Morgan laments that too many people now enter politics for the pension and salary rather than public service, criticizes DeSantis for appointing cronies as university presidents, and argues age limits are overdue because government should be about the future and very few politicians remain effective past 70. Along the way he explains why he thinks Texas Democrats fielded a more viable ticket than Florida's (James Talarico, he says, simply has "it"), why Andy Beshear won in Kentucky, why charter schools are about money rather than choice, and why DeSantis's property tax proposal could become a Brexit-style case study in voters making decisions that make no sense once the consequences arrive.
Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to break down the messy build up and coalitions involved in the Spanish civil war, and what lessons modern America can take from it. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and make a proposal for a change to the baseball Hall of Fame.

From the opening whistle to the final kick. Bet on a match and get bonus bets for every goal scored at Fanduel.com

Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.

Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order.

Timeline:
00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction
04:15 Senator Lindsey Graham dead at 71
04:45 Reactions to Graham are filtered through one’s personal politics
05:30 There are ideologues and there are politicians. Graham was the latter
06:45 Graham always wanted to be in the middle of the Republican party
09:00 Graham’s senate seat was as important to him as a spouse
11:15 Certain people are just political creatures, like Graham and Cruz
12:45 Graham was able to work with everyone on both sides of the aisle
13:30 Graham worked with both Trump and Obama
15:30 Conspiracy theories are swirling about Graham’s death
16:15 There needs to be a thorough autopsy to put conspiracies to rest
17:30 Chuck interviewed Graham & McCain, they mentioned the Steele Dossier
18:15 Graham and McCain gave the most attention to the Dossier
20:30 Graham’s parents died in his 20s, he raised his 13 year old sister
22:30 Chuck had Graham as a dark horse candidate for 2008
23:15 Graham was aware of the rumors and never addressed them directly
24:30 The real world impact on politics from Graham’s passing
25:00 Todd Blanche’s confirmation is now in serious jeopardy
25:30 Graham leaves a massive vacuum in the GOP conference
28:00 Graham kept Trump from fully going down the fascist road
29:15 Unlike Trump, Graham sees Putin as a threat & backed Ukraine
31:15 Impact on the South Carolina elections
32:00 There will be lots of Republicans looking to jump into the primary
33:15 If primary goes super right-wing, Democrat Annie Andrews has a shot
35:15 Graham reassured Chuck’s wife after expressing worries about Trump
37:45 Graham knew if he had gone hard on Trump, he’d lose his senate seat
38:45 There are parallels between U.S. and U.K politics
39:45 Labour came back into power promising competence and stability
40:45 Nigel Farage, like Trump… is trying to turn political fame into wealth
42:30 “Count Binface” has been challenging Farage as a satirical candidate
43:30 The man who made UK politics theatrical, now facing a theatrical challenge
44:00 The U.S. could really use a “Count Binface” to hold up a mirror
45:15 What if we accepted the premise of politics as entertainment?
46:00 Should we host a political reality show on an island
47:15 Governing experience has become a liability in American politics
48:00 Media rewards performance more than competency
50:15 There is going to be a retreat in the American-Israeli partnership
50:45 20 years ago we were very close to peace & two state solution
52:45 When moderation & compromise fail, radicalism takes its place
54:00 There was a serious chance for peace two decades ago
54:30 After both sides walked away, the radicalism escalated
56:15 The extremes can now argue the other side doesn’t want peace
57:00 Rahm Emmanuel travels to Israel to give speech
58:00 Rahm says Israel must provide vision for what comes after war
59:15 Rahm warns Israel risks isolating itself from younger & moderate Americans
1:00:45 Rahm sounds like someone trying to save the political center
1:02:00 Moderation disappears when it feels like moderates don’t have answers
01:12:30 John Morgan joins the Chuck ToddCast
01:13:15 What is most difficult about nationalizing a law firm?
01:14:15 When screening for good lawyers, it’s obvious who stands out
01:15:30 Lawsuits always seem frivolous until it happens to you
01:16:15 Ads that gloat about settlement numbers are a mistake
01:17:00 The goal of settlements is to give back something that was lost
01:18:15 Thoughts on private equity using civil litigation to hedge?
01:18:45 Involvement in cases against big tech companies
01:19:15 Social media is a threat to human wellbeing, especially children
01:21:00 Civil litigation has grown as government has failed to regulate
01:22:30 Monopolies are squeezing consumers
01:23:00 Processed foods are like tobacco, extremely harmful
01:23:30 RFK Jr. was a member of the firm, he’s smart and crazy
01:24:45 RFK falls down some BS rabbit holes but also has good causes
01:25:15 Vaccine makers have total indemnity
01:26:00 Sovereign immunity exists in some fashion in all 50 states
01:26:30 What’s your process for vetting science?
01:28:00 Will be launching a third party in Florida - The Common Ground
01:30:00 Other wealthy people have considered starting third parties
01:32:30 The two party system is what is broken in the country
01:33:00 Why not partner with the Forward Party?
01:34:30 Moderates should be the tiebreakers
01:36:00 A few uncommitted moderates could be a swing vote in congress
01:36:45 All you need to do is pick up a few seats to act as a fulcrum
01:38:15 It’s likely that Donalds wins in Florida, but it will be close
01:39:00 Why didn’t the Charlie Crist move work for Florida Democrats?
01:40:15 Can voters find David Jolly credible after changing parties?
01:42:00 More people are getting into politics for a pension & salary
01:43:00 People are going into politics for the wrong reasons
01:44:15 DeSantis appointed his cronies to be university presidents
01:45:00 Still deciding on whether to support Donalds or Jolly
01:46:30 Vindman doesn’t have a chance at winning
01:47:30 Texas Dem ticket is more liberal, why is it more viable than Florida’s?
01:48:15 James Talarico is very formidable, he has “it”
01:50:30 Andy Beshear won because Bevin turned on public school teachers
01:51:15 Charter schools aren’t about choice, they’re about money
01:52:00 Parental involvement is the best indicator of school performance
01:53:15 How would you message against DeSantis’s property tax proposal?
01:54:15 Americans are less interested in “us” and more interested in “me”
01:54:45 Implementing the property tax proposal will be like Brexit
01:57:00 Voters can make decisions that make no sense
01:57:45 Had the itch to run for office, but unlikely to do it
01:58:15 Government is for the future, should be age limits for elected officials
01:59:30 Very few elder politicians remain effective past 70 years old
02:02:30 Thoughts on the interview with John Morgan
02:03:00 ToddCast Time Machine - July 17th, 1936
02:03:30 Start of the Spanish civil war
02:04:15 Why does Spain’s civil war stand out in history?
02:05:30 The war wasn’t simply a fight between left and right
02:06:00 1930s Spain had every divide imaginable
02:07:00 Political violence became common, political center got smaller
02:07:45 The left wing coalition that won was barely united at all
02:08:45 Military units in Morocco revolted, then coup spread to Spain
02:09:30 Franco eventually united a fascist coalition with military command
02:10:15 The left’s internal divisions became one of Franco’s advantages
02:11:30 Civilians became part of the battlefield and were targeted
02:13:00 George Orwell’s writing came directly from his experiences in Spain
02:14:15 The fascist wing won the war and Franco ruled until 1975
02:15:00 Pluralism only emerged after decades of authoritarian rule
02:16:30 The transition out of authoritarianism came from exhaustion, not agreement
02:18:00 Sharing power with opponents is preferable to violence
02:19:15 Book recommendations for learning more about the Spanish civil war
02:20:15 Ask Chuck
02:20:30 How can we get back to lasting governance and progress?
02:26:00 Could Trump run as VP or speaker then ascend back to the presidency?
02:29:15 Why do prominent political interviews not have aggressive follow ups?
02:35:45 Who was the best pitcher of this generation that’s retiring?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Morgan — founder of Morgan & Morgan, one of the largest personal injury firms in the country — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a wide-ranging conversation about civil litigation, the failures of government regulation, and his plan to launch a third party in Florida. Morgan makes the case that civil litigation has grown precisely because government has failed to regulate — social media is a genuine threat to human wellbeing (especially for children), monopolies are squeezing consumers, and processed foods, he argues, are the new tobacco: extremely harmful and ripe for legal reckoning. He offers a candid, colorful assessment of his former firm member RFK Jr. — "smart and crazy," a man who falls down some genuine BS rabbit holes but also champions legitimate causes — and walks through the thorny reality that vaccine makers enjoy total indemnity while sovereign immunity exists in some form in all 50 states. Morgan is refreshingly honest about the ethics of his own industry, arguing that ads gloating about settlement numbers are a mistake because the real goal of a settlement is to give someone back something they lost, not to celebrate a payday.
The heart of the conversation is Morgan's plan to launch a new third party in Florida called "Common Ground," rooted in his conviction that the two-party system itself is what's fundamentally broken in America. Morgan argues that moderates should function as the tiebreakers in a polarized system — that picking up just a few seats could turn an uncommitted moderate bloc into a genuine fulcrum of power in Congress — and explains why he'd rather build something new than partner with the existing Forward Party. He handicaps Florida's political landscape with an insider's candor: Byron Donalds likely wins the governorship but it'll be close, the Charlie Crist party-switch playbook never worked, and he's genuinely unsure whether voters can find David Jolly credible after his own party change.. Morgan laments that too many people now enter politics for the pension and salary rather than public service, criticizes DeSantis for appointing cronies as university presidents, and argues age limits are overdue because government should be about the future and very few politicians remain effective past 70. Along the way he explains why he thinks Texas Democrats fielded a more viable ticket than Florida's (James Talarico, he says, simply has "it"), why Andy Beshear won in Kentucky, why charter schools are about money rather than choice, and why DeSantis's property tax proposal could become a Brexit-style case study in voters making decisions that make no sense once the consequences arrive.
Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.
Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.
Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order.
Timeline:
00:00 John Morgan joins the Chuck ToddCast
00:45 What is most difficult about nationalizing a law firm?
01:45 When screening for good lawyers, it’s obvious who stands out
03:00 Lawsuits always seem frivolous until it happens to you
03:45 Ads that gloat about settlement numbers are a mistake
04:15 The goal of settlements is to give back something that was lost
05:00 Thoughts on private equity using civil litigation to hedge?
06:15 Involvement in cases against big tech companies
06:45 Social media is a threat to human wellbeing, especially children
08:30 Civil litigation has grown as government has failed to regulate
10:00 Monopolies are squeezing consumers
10:30 Processed foods are like tobacco, extremely harmful
11:00 RFK Jr. was a member of the firm, he’s smart and crazy
12:15 RFK falls down some BS rabbit holes but also has good causes
12:45 Vaccine makers have total indemnity
13:30 Sovereign immunity exists in some fashion in all 50 states
14:00 What’s your process for vetting science?
15:30 Will be launching a third party in Florida - The Common Ground
17:30 Other wealthy people have considered starting third parties
20:00 The two party system is what is broken in the country
20:30 Why not partner with the Forward Party?
22:00 Moderates should be the tiebreakers
23:30 A few uncommitted moderates could be a swing vote in congress
24:15 All you need to do is pick up a few seats to act as a fulcrum
25:45 It’s likely that Donalds wins in Florida, but it will be close
26:30 Why didn’t the Charlie Crist move work for Florida Democrats?
27:45 Can voters find David Jolly credible after changing parties?
29:30 More people are getting into politics for a pension & salary
30:30 People are going into politics for the wrong reasons
31:45 DeSantis appointed his cronies to be university presidents
32:30 Still deciding on whether to support Donalds or Jolly
34:00 Vindman doesn’t have a chance at winning
35:00 Texas Dem ticket is more liberal, why is it more viable than Florida’s?
35:45 James Talarico is very formidable, he has “it”
38:00 Andy Beshear won because Bevin turned on public school teachers
38:45 Charter schools aren’t about choice, they’re about money
39:30 Parental involvement is the best indicator of school performance
40:45 How would you message against DeSantis’s property tax proposal?
41:45 Americans are less interested in “us” and more interested in “me”
42:15 Implementing the property tax proposal will be like Brexit
44:30 Voters can make decisions that make no sense
45:15 Had the itch to run for office, but unlikely to do it
45:45 Government is for the future, should be age limits for elected officials
47:00 Very few elder politicians remain effective past 70 years old
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd reflects on the death of Senator Lindsey Graham at 71, offering a candid assessment of one of the most complex and consequential figures in modern Republican politics. Todd argues that Graham was never really an ideologue — he was a man who wanted to be in the middle of everything, whose true north was international affairs, and who ultimately pivoted to Trump as a means of political survival because he loved his Senate seat more than almost anything. Todd breaks down the very real chaos Graham's death could unleash: it may complicate or even sink Todd Blanche's confirmation as Attorney General, and it's certain to trigger a crowded scramble of South Carolina Republicans racing to replace him.
Timeline:
00:00 Senator Lindsey Graham dead at 71
00:45 Everyone had their theory for Graham’s motivations
02:00 Graham wasn’t an ideologue, wanted to be involved in everything
02:45 Graham pivoted to Trump for political survival
03:30 International affairs were Graham’s north star
04:30 He loved his senate seat more than almost anything
05:15 Graham’s death will cause some chaos
06:00 This might mean Todd Blanche doesn’t get confirmed as AG
06:30 There will be a LOT of Republicans running to replace him

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens with the Iran war back on and the rug pulled out from under the world economy once again — but his central argument is that this is now the biggest broken campaign promise in 40 years. He draws a crucial distinction between ordinary campaign lies and genuinely major broken promises: "build the wall" was a broken promise that didn't much hurt Trump, but "no new wars" was foundational to his appeal, and the Iran calamity is now actively damaging the economy and making everyday life harder for the voters who trusted him. He notes candidate Trump was actually right that an Iran war would be irresponsible, that securing anything would require a months- or years-long ground commitment Trump won't make, and that the president was so consumed with keeping his birthday celebration on schedule that he tried to time the war around it. Marco Rubio, as always, has vanished now that things are going badly. Todd flags the NATO meetings underway in Turkey (a complicated ally Trump only engages because he and Erdogan play by the same strongman rules), marvels that Trump remains inexplicably sympathetic to a Putin who has never been weaker, and warns that all of it is making Americans less safe. He then turns to the Maine Senate race, which has become a genuine debacle: Todd argues Graham Platner was caught in a clear lie to Democratic senators about Jenny Racicot — who has said publicly she believes Platner sexually assaulted her — and that Platner knew both what she believed and that she was talking to reporters. Todd is emphatic that the lies need to be called out, that leaning into misogyny is no way to win back working-class white men, and that progressives cannot let Trump set the bar for acceptable character. He frames the whole primary through the fighter-versus-winner divide, notes this could be the second high-profile Bernie-endorsed candidate to lose (raising the stakes for Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan and underscoring how much harder it is for progressives to win statewide), and argues the progressive left urgently needs to get its house in order. Todd closes with two intriguing threads: the swirling rumors about Mitch McConnell's health and status (his seat is on the ballot in November, and Kentucky's legislature changed its vacancy-appointment law in a way that may violate the state constitution but has never been tested in court), and the escalating fight between the Trump administration and the Smithsonian — where Todd concedes the administration had a couple of fair critiques but argues that its core complaint, that the museum is "woke" for simply asking questions about history, amounts to demanding the Smithsonian swap one alleged ideology for an openly right-wing one, when the honest approach to contested history is simply to present the facts and let people interpret them.
Finally, Chuck updates the ToddCast Top 5 most likely senate flips if Maine is off the board for Democrats post-Platner scandal and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.
Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.
Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.
Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order.
Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CHUCKTODDCAST at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/chucktoddcast
From the opening whistle to the final kick. Bet on a match and get bonus bets for every goal scored at Fanduel.com
Timeline:
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction
05:00 The Iran war is now back on
06:00 The rug has been pulled on the world economy once again
06:30 The Iranians won this conflict, they have more leverage
07:30 There’s a difference between campaign lies & major broken promises
09:30 “Build the wall” was a broken promise, but didn’t impact Trump much
10:45 Trump’s other major promise was “No new wars” & Iran is a calamity
12:30 This broken promise is damaging the economy & making life difficult
13:15 When things are going badly, Marco Rubio disappears
14:30 This will be the biggest broken campaign promise in 40 years*
15:00 Candidate Trump was right that an Iran war would be irresponsible
16:15 Ground troops would be a months… if not years commitment
17:30 Trump wanted to stop the war in time for his birthday party
18:00 Trump was more concerned with keeping celebrations on schedule
18:45 NATO meetings currently taking place in Turkey…a complicated ally
19:30 Trump likely only attends this meeting because Erdogan is hosting
20:45 Trump & Erdogan are world leaders that play by the same rules
21:30 Putin has never been this weak as the ruler of Russia
23:00 It’s still perplexing that Trump is so sympathetic to Putin
24:15 Shirking Putin would make things easier for Trump…but he still doesn’t
25:00 Trump’s actions are making us all less safe
26:00 The Maine senate race has turned into a massive debacle
27:30 The framing is “Do you want to fight, or do you want to win?”
28:15 How much leverage does Platner have in choosing his replacement?
29:30 Democratic base wants a fighter, not a uniter this primary cycle
32:00 Pragmatic Democrats should make the “winning” case
32:45 Susan Collins has overperformed “generic Republican” for 30 years
34:30 Platner was caught in a clear lie to Democratic senators *
35:45 Jenny Racicot made clear she believed she was sexually assaulted by Platner
36:45 Platner knew she what she believed and that Racicot was talking to reporters*
38:00 He clearly lied to senators and the lies need to be called out*
39:30 Leaning into misogyny isn’t the way to win back white men
40:15 Platner was the left's idea of how to appeal to working class white men
41:30 Progressives can’t let Trump set the bar for character
42:30 Democrats should be thankful there’s time to fix this
44:30 This could be two high profile races that Bernie endorsees have lost
46:30 It’s much harder for progressives to win in statewide races
47:15 This puts more pressure on Abdul El-Sayed to win in Michigan
48:00 The progressive left needs to get their house in order
49:45 Rumors are flying about the status of Mitch McConnell
50:30 If Republicans wanted to put the rumors to bed, it’d be easy to do
51:30 McConnell’s seat is on the ballot in November
52:00 KY legislature changed law on vacancy appointments, against state constitution
53:00 Law change has never been tested in the courts
54:15 Simplest explanation might be McConnell wants to keep it private
56:00 Could keeping the illusion of McConnell going help with a SCOTUS confirmation?
57:00 This wouldn’t change a confirmation vote by much since he can’t vote
59:30 Fight between Trump administration and the Smithsonian
1:00:00 Administration had a couple fair critiques, but most wasn’t
1:00:30 Administration claimed the Smithsonian is “woke”
1:02:45 Another complaint was not enough America 250 programming/exhibits
1:05:00 Simply asking questions about history isn’t proof of an ideology
1:05:45 Administration is demanding the Smithsonian adopt their own ideology
1:06:30 Report claims left-wing bias, but now insists on a right-wing bias
1:09:15 History is open to interpretation, it’s best to present the facts
01:14:45 Chuck’s thoughts on the interview with Tad Devine
01:15:15 ToddCast Top 5 most likely senate flips if Maine is off the board
01:15:45 #1 North Carolina
01:16:15 #2 Michigan
01:19:30 #3 Ohio
01:20:00 #4 Alaska
01:20:45 #5 Iowa
01:21:00 If all these flip, Dems need to find one more seat
01:23:15 Susan Collins still unlikely to win, but Dems have to get it together
01:24:15 Democrats have to nominate a woman after Platner scandal
01:25:00 Ask Chuck
01:25:30 What’s one widely believed political myth that isn’t true?
01:29:15 Comparison of Trump’s impact on Atlantic City to Robert Moses?
01:31:45 Are Republicans not aware a future Dem could use expanded presidential powers?
01:34:45 USMNT loses to Belgium, whatever Trump touches dies
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